The new 46-mile route will send cyclists from Hampton Court Bridge along Hampton Court Way and through the Scilly Isles to ride back to London, instead of going through Molesey to Walton and further into Surrey.

This will mean a new group of participants can get involved in the race, which is on Sunday July 31, and will enable roads elsewhere in Surrey to reopen 30-45 minutes earlier than in previous years.

Hugh Brasher, Prudential RideLondon event director, said: "The London & Surrey Cycling Partnership (LSCP) has applied for permission to add a new event to the programme for Prudential RideLondon 2016.

"The new event is designed to appeal to newer cyclists, to encourage those to get fit through cycling and to raise further funds for charity.

"Additionally the new event will allow a 20-mile stretch of the Surrey route for the 100-mile event to be reopened between 30-45 minutes earlier."

After the 2015 event, Surrey County Council had asked LSCP to explore all possible options around minimising road closures due to feedback from residents, businesses and places of worship.

For the first event in 2013 the roads remained closed between the amateur ride and the professional race.

In 2014, a rolling closure was introduced for the professional event between Hampton Court Bridge and Abinger Hammer in order to provide greater access, and this was refined and repeated for 2015.

Data from 2015 was reviewed and found large sections of road closures remained in place for considerable places, an "inefficient" use of space.

At Tuesday's (February 2) county council cabinet meeting, Councillor Helyn Clack said: “I am really pleased that we have come up with a shortened route as a local person in that area watching the race you get to the end of the sponsored route where there are fewer and fewer people coming through.”

The third short route will be in addition to the two existing options at Abinger Hammer to Wotton, 92 miles, and Burford Bridge to Givons Grove, 94 miles.